KAAT Marble Ashtray
The spectacular beauty of marble is obvious if you’ve ever gazed upon the Taj Mahal, looked up at the Washington Monument or even simply shopped for home countertops. For centuries, humans have coveted the metamorphic rock for its variety of colors, hallmark swirls, moody veining patterns and its one-of-a-kind character. After all, like a fingerprint, no two pieces of marble are exactly alike.
Given the tantalizing rock’s natural resistance to heat, it’s hard to believe a high-quality marble cigar ashtray hasn’t been available to enthusiasts until now. A trip to India to research natural building materials inspired Sicilian architect Michele Cucchiara to change that, forming KAAT, an Italy-based company specializing in handmade marble cigar ashtrays. It begins with a slab from either Iran or one of the famous marble quarries of Italy, including Palermo, Carrara and Liguria. Expert artisans, or marmisti, then chisel, sand and form the marble until it becomes an elegant cigar ashtray meant to hold a single cigar.
A half-barrel groove that is bored nearly the length of the ashtray serves as a comfortable rest for your cigar. It hugs and accommodates smokes of all types, from thin petit coronas to long Churchills and even A sizes. The ashtray’s weight reduces any unwanted shifting that may knock the ash off your cigar as it rests.
KAAT ashtrays come in two minor variations in shapes. They both measure about 7 inches long by nearly 3 inches wide and a little over 1 inch tall. They differ in the depth of the ash bowl: one is a little more than an inch deep, while the other is a little less than an inch. The pieces are offered in nine basic color groups. Each costs $530.
Visit www.kaatcollection.com.
